The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-15


cent of nearly three hundred thousand
ollars of Indebtedness to another veal
by corporation, cannot perhaps be re-
paired, but these corporations and all I
,thers can be made to pay on their
property within the State the same tax
hat is paid by the people of the State.
The constitution absolutely requires
hat it shall be done. "All property shall
De taxed in proportion to its value"
Taxation shall be uniform throughout
he State" But it is unneo essary to
elaborate what the writer has so strongly
We may add that he is
more than "Citizen"-he is political
economist and statesman:
The present State tax on
the property of individuals is 81 mills,
with system of privilege taxes unknown |
to the letter Of the constitution and in con- |
of Its spirit. Some property is
made to pay the regular tax and is then |
subjected to privilege tax, while other
property pays no privilege whatever. Cor
porations for pecuniary profit, though
Subject to taxation, the same as that of
individuals" are exempt from the 81 mill
tax, and only required to pay small tax
in the form of privilege tax, and some
rich corporations are even exempt from
this small tax. The constitution provides
that 1.-The property of all corporations, for
pecuniary profit, shall be subject to taxa
ton, the same as that of individuals :"
taxation shall be equal and uniform
throughout the State )" ''all property shall
be taxed IN proportion to its value" Does
not every intelligent man know that the
present revenue laws are not in accord
with these several provisions of the consti-
tuition? Taxation is not equal, uniform,
nor is it in proportion to the value Of the
thing taxed. While the farmers and pro-
ductive industries are burdened with tax
alton without discrimination, rich corpo-
rations have been the special objects of
legislative and executive favor. The State
tax now paid by the railroads of the State
only aggregate $46,7230S, whereas, if
taxed according to the rules of the consti-
stitution, would aggregate 100000. Add
to this the county tax, and this sum would
be nearly trebled, approximating in the
aggregate nearly 100000. 1t will be .per-
ceived that the imperative word SHALL is
usad in the fhraa ,1roviSiopu of tho oopsti
tution-"shall be subject to taxation
''shall be equal and uniform"-"shall be
taxed in proportion to its valuen II all
property was taxed in pursuance of these
provisions, and the other resources of the
State utilized for the public good, and APP
preparations of money confined to legiti-
mate objects, taxes on the property of in
dividuals would be greatly reduced and
the State government administered on the
| high plane of intelligent statesm anship
and a faithful execution of the laws
With these reforms and men, high minded
men, chosen to carry them into effect, the
tragic scenes so frequently enacted within
hearing of the State will be superseded by
law and morality, bringing peace and con-
tentment with generous rivalry among
men OF opposing views.
Railroad jobbers fixed up scheme tc
acquire lands of this State, based upon the
fallacious pretence, that they were neces
sary to the construction of the railroad
which would rebound to the great benefit
of the State. The Memphis Appeal in
speaking OF these lands said: There never
was better endowed railroad than that
known as the Valley road. 1t received
more than 100000 acres of land at cents
certainly not more than % cents per acre
that are now being sold at an average o.
$500 per acre, making gross sum Of
$500, 600" The heritage of the people Of
the State has been thus transferred to the
millionaires, Huntington and Wilson, who
would, for their personal gain, beggar the
people of the State. These railroad specu
lators would have built the Valley road
without subsidies since they were compelled
to have an outlet for their system of road.
through this State to New Orleans. Thi,
inconsiderate and reckless waste of the
lands of the State is in keeping with the
un-American policy of donating to corpo-
rations the lands of the United States
with this exception, the United States
reserved each alternate section, whereas
the State transferred her lands indiscrimi-
nately. These lands are now being colo
nized by transferring the labor from the
hills to the swamps. This munifcence to
wealthy, influential corporations, is also
in keeping with the precedent of the State
Legislature in the relipquishment of the
debt due the State by the Mobile & Ohio
r. r. Co., upon which debt judgment was
rendered by the Supreme Court of this
State, on the 9th day of March, 1876, in
favor of the State for $780,, 500, with inter-
est at eight per cent. per annum from Feb
ruary 21st, 1876. against said company I;
also the precedent of releasing said COM
pany from the payment of taxes due the
State amounting to $40, 29S.20, for and in
consideration of $50, 900. This company
owed land tax of $97 ,969.29 on 657 900
acres, upon which tax judgment was rem
dered by the same court and it only re-
manned tor the tax-collector to advertise
and sell the lands, &c. The unpaid taxes
on the road aggregate $92, 1885. The total
of the debt due the State is $685., 164. %.
Simple interest on the first judgment would
now amount to about $751;, 600; on the
second Judgment at six per cent. to about
"a, 900, making grand total of $s44,-
164.29, which the Mobile 4 Ohio R. r.
Co., extinguished by the payment of only
SIS, 600. Yet these muni6cently favored
corporations complain when asked to pay
taxes on their property the same as indi-
viduals pay on their property"